It was the same Southeast community that had embraced the Wiebes; the same place with newfound hope where they had envisioned building a new life.
Authorities have located the bodies of two of the missing family members, found together, holding each other, according to the family.
They were discovered more than 9 miles from where their home used to be, said Wiebe, who spoke to FOX Weather from Los Angeles on behalf of his family.
“They had to put their lives on the line to get to them. They did it for free out of the kindness of their heart,” he added.
“This was a raging out-of-control monster of a river that rose 100 feet and ate trailers and trash trucks and homes and just turned them into scrap metal.”
The same river that now destroyed their family had once been a source of tranquility and joy.
Wiebe and his brother grew up on the river, their childhood filled with the joy of fishing, tubing, and navigating the rapids.
Their home was nestled right beside the river, a beautiful spot that offered the soothing sounds of flowing water as a lullaby.
“But unfortunately, now this river has totally ripped up the landscape, and it doesn’t look like it once did before,” Wiebe said.
“My brother is this scared of the river for what it’s done and the power that it can have now.”
For now, Wiebe said his family’s ultimate goal is to rebuild.
“We have more property higher up, and the water will never touch us there,” Wiebe said.
“But of course, we’re going to have to come to peace with the river.”
Wiebe’s family’s tragedy is just one of many in the region devastated by the flooding.
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